Compare towns
Washington vs Cornish vs Chelsea
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Cornish has the highest household income ($92k).
Chelsea has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Washington | Cornish | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,056Lowest |
1,816Highest |
1,223 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1Lowest 36% above U.S. |
54±8.3 39% above U.S. |
54.1±12.1Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Chelsea and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chelsea and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chelsea and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chelsea and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,103±$8k 18% below U.S. |
$91,821±$2kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$65,913±$13kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$37kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$260,900±$39k 22% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $996±$285Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$1,524±$467Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Chelsea and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,485Lowest 12% above U.S. |
$5,796Highest 86% above U.S. |
$3,762 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.3%±33.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chelsea and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Cornish School District | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.